Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin is retiring and not seeking re-election which gives Republicans an opportunity to challenge Democrats for the open seat.
Among the GOP candidates is Larry Hogan, a former governor, who is leading Democrats in polling. The party primary is May 14.
Washington Times columnist Robert Knight, who is familiar with Hogan, says the former governor was well liked when he left office and remains the state’s most popular governor today.
“He wouldn't be everybody's cup of tea in the Republican Party,” Knight says, “because he is a moderate.”
Hogan, 67, made history in 2018 when he was re-elected to a second term as governor. He became the first GOP candidate to do so since the 1950s.
Joe Biden easily defeated Donald Trump in Maryland in 2020 after Hillary Clinton won the state over Trump 60%-35% in 2016.
“You probably wouldn't like what (Hogan) does on some issues but you'd like what he does on others,” Knight tells AFN. “So a lot of Republicans who are very conservative should be rooting for Larry Hogan this year. They could do a lot worse."
